The Colombo High Court has acquitted and released former Minister Udaya Gammanpila, who was accused of financial fraud involving the preparation of a fake attorney’s license and the sale of company shares belonging to an Australian businessman.
The judge ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Attorney General had filed the case against former Minister Udaya Gammanpila and businessman Sidney Jayasinghe during the previous Yahapalana government. The allegations claimed that they had criminally misappropriated Rs. 21 million by creating a fake attorney’s license and selling 21 million shares of Pan Asia Bank. These shares were allegedly purchased in the name of a company owned by Australian businessman Brian Shaddick between September 26, 1996, and September 25, 1997.
